20 Epic Toy Design Fails That Are So Bad, It’s Actually Funny

As simple as they might seem in concept, the truth is that making a good toy is harder than it seems. Many toys that represent human figures tend to invoke the uncanny valley, but some are so creepy that it’s unclear what parents would look at it and think “My child needs one of these.” At the same time, parents are also forced to search through the veritable ocean of bootlegs.

We’ve gathered some spectacular examples of bizarre, creepy, or just downright weird toy design fails from across the internet. So get comfortable as you scroll through, upvote your favorites, and be sure to share your thoughts in the comments below.

20 PHOTOS

#1 From What Level Of Hell Was This Retrieved?

#2 They Should Have Thought About This Kinder Egg Toy A Little Longer

#3 The Quality Check Was Passed

On the face of it, toys really should not be creepy at all. Most folks would probably agree that playthings for children should, on average, be cute and inoffensive. However, toymakers also have to deal with the unfortunate reality that the items they make tend to be human or humanoid forms and, as it turns out, people have a weird aversion to this concept.

This is generally referred to as the uncanny valley, where “mostly” human figures make people nervous. We tend to be able to relate more to forms and figures that resemble us, but as these figures get closer and closer to perfectly resembling humans, there is a “drop,” or a valley which suddenly creates some revulsion.

#4 This "Hagrid" Doll I Bought 15 Years Ago In A Dollar Store Is Just A Repainted Lion From The Wizard Of Oz. Rocking His Mane, Ears, And Medal Of Courage

#5 Off-Brand Toy With An Interesting Name

#6 Playground In Germany

Some have, rather sensationally, suggested that this powerful aversion to “almost human” figures is some evolutionary response to alien doppelgangers. However, there is a significantly more logical explanation. It's the same reason rotten food, maggots, and skeletons all, generally cause some degree of fear and disgust: being around dead things can be dangerous, and a corpse is perfectly in line with something “almost human.”

#7 The Not So Fantastic Four

#8 This Lamb I Won Out Of A Claw Machine. I Love It

#9 Geocentric Solar System At A Public School's Playground

In toys, the uncanny valley tends to show up most often in hyperrealistic baby dolls. While it might not be as common of a toy anymore, there was a period when dollmakers were going through a sort of arms race to produce baby dolls. This included features like crying until it was “fed,” the ability to urinate, and dynamic sounds, from sleeping to laughter.

#10 Bort Sampson

#11 Batman’s Face Is Priceless

#12 Homer On Steroids

At a young age, this might all seem quite cool but as an adult, a very lifelike toy making noises and sometimes even “reacting” to movement and light (these sorts of features also exist) are probably the inspiration for horror movies about dolls and toys coming to life.

#13 My Friend's Daughter Got A Veterinarian Kit For Her 4th Birthday, He Sent Me This

#14 My Favorite Show Is Called The Americans

#15 Oh No

#16 SpongeBob Devourer Of Children

#17 Spooderman

#18 I'm A Benign Girl, In A Benign World

#19 Mario Grew A Mustache Above His Nose

#20 “Luigi, I Think Something Is Not Right”